The number of school children who need financial assistance at Valley Ridge Academy in Nocatee is on the rise at the same time government funding to help them is declining. That’s why the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra is hosting the “NFL Par-Tee Charity Golf Tournament” at nearby Palm Valley Golf Course, 1075 Palm Valley Road, Ponte Vedra, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22.
The proceeds from the event will go to Valley Ridge Academy and other schools in Nocatee to help them with students who are in need as well as funding other charitable efforts of the Rotary Club’s foundation.
The latest data from the St. Johns County School District has identified 12 children who are homeless and attending schools in the Nocatee area. Furthermore, an estimated total of 65 children at three K-8 schools in Nocatee require food donations on the weekends to get by.
Complicating matters, at the end of this month, these schools are losing COVID-related relief grants from the federal government as part of the America Rescue Plan Act. This means helping children who are financially disadvantaged attend a class field trip with their peers, for example, or enroll in an after-school care program is becoming more difficult.
Over the past two years, Valley Ridge Academy has seen a significant increase in the number of students in need. The majority of them have a home but lack the financial resources to cover “out-of-pocket” school-related expenses. Others meet the federal McKinney-Vento Act definition of being homeless as they either lack a fixed, regular or adequate nighttime residence or do not live with a parent or legal guardian, and are thus considered to be an “unaccompanied youth.”
The NFL Par-Tee Charity Golf Tournament will host 17 teams of four golfers each teeing off in a shotgun start for the event. Local merchants have donated raffle prizes ranging from a free annual social membership at TPC Sawgrass (retail value: $750) to 500 free smoothies from Clean Juice in Nocatee for the event.
There will be a hole-in-one contest for a free golf cart from Nextgen Carts, a family-friendly “Fun Zone” that will include games like a marshmallow driving contest, and food provided by the BF’nD and Mister Softee food trucks.
You can sign up to play or become an event sponsor by registering at the NFL Par-Tee Charity Golf Tournament website, events.golfstatus.com/event/nfl-sunday-par-tee-golf-tournament/details/registration-details.
All participants are encouraged to wear their favorite NFL football team’s gear at the event as the Jags won’t be playing that Sunday and organizers will have several fun, football-themed activities for participants to take part in.
